Vinegar and an egg can demonstrate how food can wear away the enamel on teeth. To show preschoolers how this happens, show them an egg. Explain to them how the eggshell protects the egg inside the shell and how the enamel on our teeth protects our teeth, just like the egg shell. Place a hard-boiled egg in a cup of vinegar and wait a few days. The vinegar will dissolve the eggshell. Explain to the children that food can wear away our teeth in the same manner, which is why it is important to brush their teeth twice each day. Have them practice brushing their teeth using their fingers as toothbrushes.
The four bumps on the bottom of soda bottles resemble the bumps on molars, which are the teeth found in the back of our mouths. Cut off the bottom portion of soda bottles and turn them upside down on a table. Place newspaper on the table to protect it. Spray the "teeth" with shaving cream, which will mimic food stuck on the teeth. Give the children toothbrushes and have them clean the shaving cream from the teeth.
Children love dramatic play, which they call “pretend.” Have them pretend to be in a dentist's office, to help them to know what to expect when they see the dentist. This also helps them work out their fears of dentists. Place dental posters around the room. Get old X-rays from a dentist and hang them up. Provide the children with white smocks, toothbrushes, paper towels, small cups and small dentist mirrors. Have them pretend to brush their teeth. Instruct them to take turns being the dentist, the dentist's helper and the patient. The dentist can pretend to brush the patient's teeth.
You can fill Dental Health Week with dental art projects for preschoolers. Provide the children with a paper that has a smile of yellow teeth and give them white paint and toothbrushes. Instruct them to paint the yellow teeth white with the paint. Give the children dental floss and show them how to hold the dental floss, dip it in pant and have them paint with it. They can also paint a picture with a toothbrush. Give the children magazines and have them cut out pictures of healthy food that is good for their teeth and junk food that is bad for teeth. Provide them with a large paper with a smiling face on one side and a frowning face on the other side. Have them glue the healthy food to the smiling side and the junk food to the frowning side.